Building construction



May 24, 1938. H GRIESEL 2,118,193

BUILDING CONS TRUCTION Filed Feb. 18, 1935 2 SheecS-Sheel l BXWQMWMWAMMay 24, 1938. H GRlESEL 218J93 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 18, 19352 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 193s 2,118,193

UNETE STA'ES PAT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Heinrich Griesel, Berlin, GermanyApplication February 18, 1935, Serial Nc. 7,135 In Germany August 18,1933 14 Claims. (Cl. 72-65) My invention relates to buildingconstructions. over and/or between such layers which are made Moreparticularly, it relates to constructions in succession, insertions inthe shape of individual comprising a pair of flanged supports, normallyrods, netting or the like, for bracing the layers, or I-iron girders,abutment members or stones sup- I may arrange pipes or cables built insimilarly.

ported on the flanges of the supports, load-bear- Obviously, thedistance between the two fianged 5 ing cover plates inserted between theabutment supports or girders which is to be spanned by members andacting thereon like a vault through the aforesaid members, is not thesame for varidiagonal surfaces on the members and the plates, ousbuildings, ceilings, etc. This involves the and closing means below theplates which are necessity of diamensioning the covering plates xed bythe abutment members. Certain of the and battens for the span of eachindividual struc- 1n aforementioned features in building constructionture. This is not very important with respect to are described andclaimed in my United States the battens but the difficulty is to keep instock Patent No. 2,902,347, which issued May 2l, 1935, so many coverplates of various sizes. and it is an object of this invention toprovide an It is another object of my invention to overimproved buildingconstruction of that character. come this drawback. To this end, Istandardize l5 To this end, I provide slots in the lower ends theelements, i. e., the abutment members and of the abutment members whichbear on the lower the cover plates. The various distances betweenflanges of the I-iron girders, and in the slots I girders are made upfor by suitably varying the insert the ends of battens which also bearon thickness of the abutment members. With such Q0 the lower flanges andare fixed by the abutment abutment members, it is only necessary to keep20 members. The battens are equipped with means in stock a few sizes ofcover plates. By way of for holding a lower covering layer. VPreferably,example, the thicknesses of the standardized the holding means areinserted in the battens abutment members may vary 2 inches, so thatWhile the battens are made, and the means are the spans vary 4 inches,and so the sizes of the fr, wire loops with projecting ends engaging inthe cover plates to be kept in stock differ for 4 in. 25

layer which may be plaster or insulating material. from each other.

FFEQE By inserting the ends of the battens in slots The joints betweenthe individual parts of my of the abutment members, I reduce the overallconstruction are filled in with mortar. height of the construction, and,since the ends My invention also relates to the abutment i of thebattens are fixed by the abutment memmembers or stones, and it is stillanother object go bers, the battens are comparatively thin and of myinvention to improve such members by light even for large spans.modifying in various ways.

The battens are preferably made of reproof To this end, I provide, in anabutment memn material, and the holding means which, as menber having adiagonal surface at its upper end for A, tioned, are preferablyinsert/ed while the battens the reception of the corresponding diagonalsurare made, may be wire loops, as mentioned, or face of a cover plate,and a downwardly inclined they may be of hoop iron, or they may bepointed face below the diagonal surface; a horizontal face like nails tofacilitate the penetration of the layer at the upper end of the diagonalsurface, and of plaster or the like. The layer itself is fixed not lessthan one recess in the face of the abutby bending or winding of theprojecting ends of ment member which is opposite the diagonal sur- 40wire loops or the like, or by wedges or pins inface, for the receptionof a flange, or the flanges,

serted in the projecting ends of hoop-iron memof a girden bers. The endsof the members may also be bent I may also make the abutment surface sohigh or wound, and then the' said wedges or pins may that the aforesaidhorizontal face beyond which y, be inserted. the cover plate extends andon which itis sup- Instead of a single layer of plaster or the likeported, is at a higher level than the upper flange which is attached tothe battens by their holding of the girder, while, on the other hand, Imay means, I may attach a plurality of layers, for make the downwardlyinclined face so long that instance, an insulating layer and wirenetting for the lower end of the abutment member engages a, plaster,placed directly one upon the other or about the lower ange of thegirder. 50

spaced apart at any desired distance, without re- By so selecting thesize of the abutment memducing the strength of the structure the fixedbers that they project beyond the girder flanges,

battens make up together with the other parts the most favorableproportion of the masses of of the construction. H the abutment membersand the cover plates in- In the manner described, I may also build inserted between them, may be obtained. Y

Abutment members according to my invention, as described above, arepreferably used for the described ceiling and vault constructions, butmay also be used for ceiling and other structures of other types, inparticular for such structures in which the aforesaid battens and thelayer, or layers, which they support, are dispensed with, and the lowerfaces of the abutment members and the cover plates inserted between eachtwo members, make up together a vault or arch, or they may be used forceiling and other'structures in which the cover plates are hollow andthe lower ends of the abutment members themselves make up the lower endof the construction.

In the accompanying drawings, various constructions and abutment membersand cover plates embodying my invention are ill strated by way ofexample.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of a construction comprising a solid coverVplate and slotted abutment members,

Fig. 2 is a cross section showing one half of a construction comprisinga trough-shaped cover plate and abutment members without slots,

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing one of the slotted abutment members inFig. 1, partly broken away and viewed in the direction of arrow III,Fig. l,

Figs. 4a to 4e are sections on the line 1V IV in Fig. 1 and showingmodifications of the connection between the covering layer and a batten,

Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate, by way of comparison, standardized abutmentmembers and cover plates according to Figs. l and 2, respectively,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of an abutment member having a horizontal face atthe upper end of its diagonal surface, and a recess for the reception ofthe upper girder flange,

Fig. '7 is an elevation of an abutment member which is similar to theone illustrated in Fig. 6, but divided at the recess,

Fig. 8 is an end elevation, and

Fig. 9 isan elevation, viewed from the left in Fig. 8, of a hollowabutment member whose diagonal face is grooved and whose ends areequipped with a projection and a recess, respectively, for connecting itto other members,

Fig.V 10 is an elevation of an abutment member with two recesses, onefor the upper, and the other for the lower flange of the girder,

Fig. 1l is a cross section showing one half of a construction which issimilar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1, but whose abutment members areextended beyond the upper flange of the girder, and stepped insteadofbeing recessed, for the upper fiange, and

Fig. 12 is a cross section of the vault-like construction referred to inwhich the abutment members illustrated in Fig, 6 are used.

Referring now to the drawings, and rst to Figs. 1 and 3, the flangedsupports are shown as the I-iron girders of a ceiling at l. 2 is one ofthe battens referred to which are placed on the lower flanges of thegirders with their stepped ends. 3 are the two abutment members whichare allotted to the batten 2, and are slotted in their lower ends at t,Fig. 3, for the reception of the corresponding batten end. 'Ihe abutmentmembers are placed against the inner sides of the girder webs betweentheir upper and lower flanges, as shown in Fig. 1, and are held inposition by their engagement with the battens which make a tight t inthe slot 4. At the same time, the battens 2 are firmly seated and fixedon the lower flanges of girders i, and thrust is exerted against theupper portion of the girders I. The abutment members each have aVertical outer face with which they bear against the web and flanges ofthe girders l at their inner sides, as shown in Fig. l, a diagonalsurface 25 Yat their inner side which extends as far as the Lipper endof the abutment member, and a downwardly inclined face 2l which extendsfrom the lower end of the diagonal surface 25 as far as the lower end ofthe abutment member, and isv broken by the slot s. When the abutmentmembers have ,been placed in position as described, a solid cover plateE having diagonal surfaces e, is placed between thediagonal surfaces 25of the abutment members and exerts thrust on them by its vaultlikeaction, at the same time fixing the battens 2 by means of the slots @lin the abutment members, as described. Thrust is exerted against theupper portions of the girders I, as mentioned.

The `top of the cover plate 5 is at but its base is arched, so thatthere is a space between the battens 2 and the cover plates. 5.

Steel members 24 are preferably inserted in the cover plates 5, andconnected to corresponding steel members of the adjacent cover plates,as described in my said patent, so that a continuous ceiling or otherconstruction is obtained which is strong against tension and thrustforces. The ends of the steel members 26 which are at the sides of theconstruction, are anchored in the walls of the building of which theconstruction forms part.Y Y

The construction has two covering layers 9 and lll at its lower end. Theupper layer il may be a wire netting or the like for supporting theplaster, or an insulating layer, and the other layer is of plaster.

The means for connecting the layers le to the battens 2 will now bedescribed with reference to Figs. 4a to 4e. be made of concrete, with apair of parallel steel insertions 2.

Referring now to Fig. 4a, loops l, of wire, hoop iron, or the like areinserted in the battens with their lower endsv 8 projecting from thelower face of the batten for some distance, as shown in dotted lines.When the battens have been inserted between the girders l, as described,and the construction has been assembled, the layer 9 is placed cn theprojecting ends of the loops which are preferably pointed to facilitatepenetration through the layer, as shown in Figs. 4d and 4e for amodified design, and the ends are bent over. as shown in full lines,whereupon the plaster l5 is applied. c

Referring now to Fig. 4b, the batten 2 is yequipped as described but thetwo layers 9 and Ill are spaced apart, and spacing members l l areinserted between the two layers, and held by the projecting ends. 8 ofthe loops 1. In this manner an insulating cavity is obtained between thelayers 9 and I0. Instead of the spacing members l i, steel members forwire netting may be `inserted for bracing the intermediate layer iland/or the plaster layer I0.

Referring now to Fig. 4c, the spacing members l l are provided asdescribed but cables i2 or pipes l2 may be inserted between the layers.together with the spacing members l l, or the spacing members may bereplaced altogether by pipes or cables.

Referring now to Figs. 4d and 4e, the projecting end 88 of a flat member'i1 which is pointed, hasa slot for the insertion of a wedge or pin la.

As mentioned, the ends of the loops are prefer- The battens 2 aresupposed to` ably pointed, and 'this is, shown in dotted lines in Figs.4d and 4e. When the layer 9, or any other layer, has been fixed by thewedge la, the pointed ends of the loops 'I are preferably turned down onthe wedges la, as shown in Fig. 4e.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the girders I and the covering layers 9 and I0are provided as described, and the abutment members 3 are placed betweenthe flanges of the girders, as also described, but in this case thelower ends of the abutment members are without slots, and are extendedbeyond the lower flanges of the girders. The face 2'I is dispensed with,the diagonal surface extending throughout the height of the abutmentmembers 3. The cover plate 5 which has diagonal surfaces 6, asdescribed, is trough-shaped and extends in downward direction as far asthe lower ends of the abutment members 3, so that the lower face of thecovering plate supports the layers 9 and I0, or only the plaster layerI0, and the battens 2 are dispensed with. The cavity of thetrough-shaped cover plate 5 may be iilled in with any suitable materialsuch as slag, sand, or the like, as indicated at I3, and a wooden floormay be placed on the filler.

Referring now to Figs. 5a and 5b, these are reproductions of Figs. l-and2, respectively, but show an example for the standardization referredto. The thickness of the abutment members 3 illustrated in Figs, 1 and 2is indicated in dotted lines, and the members 3 are thicker than themembers in Figs. 1 and 2. For example, the distance of the full anddotted lines may be 2 in., as explained above.

Various types of abutment members will now be described with referenceto Figs. 6 to 11.

Referring rst to Fig. 6, this abutment member 3, which may be partlyhollow as shown at 32, has the diagonal surface 25, the inclined face 3land the horizontal face 28, as described, but the inclined face 21 isnot as steep as in Fig. 1 because it is intended to form part of avault, as will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The outer face ofthe abutment member is recessed at 29 for the reception of the uppergirder flange. By means of this recess, the abutment members arethreaded on the girders I as shown in Fig, 12, and the upper portion 2lof each member bears on the upper flange from above and presents ahorizontal face to the cover plate 5 whose diagonal surfaces 6 engagethe mating surfaces 25 of the abutment members. It will appear thatabutment members, even if large, are firmly seated between the girderflanges, without being supported by lagging, before the covering plates5 are inserted. If desired, this member may be solid.

Referring to Fig. 7, this abutment member is similar tothe oneillustrated in Fig. 6 as to its outline, but is divided into a lowerportion 33 and an upper portion 3|. The recess 29' is in the upperportion as shown in full lines, but it may also be in the lower portion,as shown in dotted lines.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, this abutment member is also similar to theone in Fig. 6,and undivided. It has two cavities 32, as seen in Fig. 9,and its diagonal surface is grcoved at 26 so that the mortar takes abetter hold thereon. To place the several abutment members in as close avicinity to each other as is practicable, the abutments are notched at33 in one of their end faces while the other end face has a rib 34 toengage in the notch 33 of the adjacent member. This design is notlimited to the type of abutment member illustrated in Figs.-8 and 9butniay be adapted to any member, if desired.

Referring to Fig. 10, this abutment member which may be hollow asindicated at 32, has a recess 22 for the lower girder flange, inaddition to the recess 29 for the upper flange, as described. It willappear that the girders l are Vprotected against fire fro-m below by thelower portion or lug 23 of the abutment member 3.

Referring now to Fig. 11, this abutment member is similar to the oneillustrated in Fig. 1 but has an upper extension beyond the upper flangeof the girder at I5. This extension I5 places-the cover plate 5 at ahigher level and increases the height of the space between its archedbottom and the top 'of battons 2. The layers 9 and I3 are provided as inFig. l.

Referring now to Fig. l2, the abutment members of Fig. 6 are used inthis ceiling structure. The members are threaded on the girders I, withthe upper girder flanges engaging in recesses 29, as described. Theload-bearing cover plates 5 areinserted between the diagonal surfaces 25of the members with their diagonal faces 6, and

make up vaults with the inclined faces 21 of the ii members. The steelmembers 24 are connected where they project from the sides of the coverplates 5, as and for the purpose specified.

By way of example, the ceiling construction in Fig. 12 has been shown asarranged below an existing ceiling, or floor, 35, with I-iron girders36. The ceiling below is provided as a stand-by in case the ceilingabove breaks down as may occur if a building falls down. 1f the upperportions 2I of the members project beyond the upper girder flanges, asin the example illustrated, the clearance between the two ceilings canbe made quite low and may be filled in, so that both ceilings bear loadtogether.

Obviously, I am not limited to the use Vof my abutment members for theconstructions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 11, and 12.

I claim:

1. A building construction comprisinga pair of flanged supports, anabutment member bearing on a flange of each support with its lower endand having a slot in such lower end, and a diagonal surface at its upperend; a load-bearing cover plate inserted between, and supported by, thediagonal surfaces of said abutment members by corresponding diagonalsurfaces and exerting a vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member supportedby the flanges of the supports said abutment members bear on, and fixedby said abutment members, a lower covering layer, and means in saidbatteri for holding said layer.

2. A building construction comprising a pair of flanged supports, anabutment member bearing on a flange of each support with its lower endand having a slot in such lower end, and a diagonal surface at its upperend; a load-bearing cover plate inserted between, and supported by, thediagonal surfaces of said abutment members by corresponding diagonalsurfaces and exerting a vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member, supportedby the flanges of the supports said abutment members bear on, and

fixed by said abutment members, a lower coverlng layer, a memberinserted in said batteri with lts slotted end projecting therefrom, anda transverse member inserted in the slot of the member for holding saidlayer.

3. A building construction comprising'a pair of flanged supports, anabutment member bearing on a flange of each support with its lower endand having a slot in such lower end, and a diagonal surface at its upperend; a load-bearing cover plate inserted between, and supported by, thedlagonal surfaces of said abutment members by corresponding diagonalsurfaces and exerting a vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member, supportedby the anges of the supports said abutment members bear on, and fixed bysaid abutment members,'a lower coveringlayer, means supported by saidbatten for holding said layer, and an intermediate layer between saidbatten and said lower covering layer.

4. A building construction comprising a pair of ilanged supports, anVabutment member bearing on a flange of each support with its lower end,and having a slot in such lower end, and a diagonal surface at its upperend; a load-bearing cover plate inserted between, and supported by, thediagonal surfaces of said abutment members by corresponding diagonalsurfaces and exerting a vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member, supportedby the flanges of the supports said abutment members bear on, and fixedby said abutment members, a lower covering layer, means supported bysaid batten for holding Va vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member, supportedby the Vflanges ofthe supports said abutment members bear on, and fixedby said abutment members, a lower covering layer, means supported bysaid batten for holding said layer, an intermediate layer between saidbatten and said lower covering layer which intermediate layer is spacedfrom said covering layer, and pipes inserted between said layers forspacing them.

6. A building construction comprising a pair of flanged supports, anabutment member bearing on a flange of each support with its lower end,and having a slot in such lower end, and a diagonal surface at its upperend; a load-bearing cover plate inserted between, and supported by, thediagonal surfaces of said abutment members by corresponding diagonalsurfaces and exerting Va Vault-like side thrust against said abutmentmembers, a batten inserted in a slot of each abutment member, supportedby the flanges of the supports said abutment members bear on, and ilxedby said abutment members, a lower covering layer, means supported bysaid batten for holding said layer, an intermediate layer between saidbatten and said lower covering layer which intermediate layer is spacedfrom said covering layer, and spacing members inserted between saidlayers and fixed by said layer-holding means.

7. Covering plates and abutment members for building constructions inwhich said abutment members bear on flanges of supports forming part ofsaid construction and have diagonal surfaces at their upper ends forsupporting loadbearing cover plates with mating diagonal surfaces, saidcoveringV plates and abutment members being provided in sets ofdifferent widths each movement of which Vis in multiples of 1/2 inch,thus being standardized for various distances between said supports. 1

8. A iloor-and-ceiling construction comprising two beams, load carryingcovering plates arranged between the two beams, abutment blocksinterpositioned, the plates being supported as in a vaulted constructionby means of oblique surfaces engaging corresponding oblique surfaces onthe abutment blocks, the plates being troughshaped in such manner thatthe horizontal lower surface of each covering plate lies approxivforcements being connected with the reinforcements of adjacentstructural elements.

10. In a building construction in which there is a flanged support andan abutment member adapted to be placed on the flange of said supportwith its lower end, and in which said abutment member has a slot in suchlower end and a diagonal surface at its upper end; an inclined faceextending from the lower end of said diagonal surface as far as thelower end of said abutment member. Y

ll. In a building construction, the combination which comprises aflanged support, and an abutment member, said abutment member having Y alower end adapted to be placed upon a flange of the support, a diagonalsurface, and a horizontal face adjacent the upper end of the diagonalsurface, said horizontal face extending beyond the upper end of thesupport.

l2. In a building construction, the combination which comprises aflanged support, and an abutment member, said abutment member having alower end adapted to be placed upon a flange of the support, a diagonalsurface, a horizontal face at the upper end of the diagonal surface, anda lug extending under the lower flange of the support.

13. In a building construction, the combination which comprises aflanged support and an abutment member, said abutment member having alower end adapted to be placed upon a flange of the support, a diagonalgrooved surface, and a horizontal face at the upper end of the diagonalsurface.

14. In a building construction, the combination which comprises aflanged support, and an abutment member, said abutment member having alower end adapted to be placed upon a flange of the support, a diagonalsurface, and a horizontal face on the upper end Vof the diagonalsurface, and means at the sides of the abutment member for connecting itto adjacent abutment members.

HEINRICH GRIESEL.

